Interactive
Curated OER

National Park Service: Dison National Historical Site: The Invention Factory

For Students 6th - 9th
This terrific interactive site from the National Park Service describes the different buildings on Thomas Edison's West Orange, New Jersey's laboratory facility. After exploring the buildings, follow Edison's invention and application of...
Handout
US Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators

For Students 9th - 10th
This site by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides very useful information on the career of a TV, video, and motion picture camera operator and editor.
Website
National Museum of Science and Industry (UK)

Ingenious: Travelling in the Minds Eye

For Students 9th - 10th
Virtual travel has become a very popular form of visiting places. Travelling in the Mind's Eye historically delves into the concepts that make a virtual fieldtrip possible. The uses of photography, motion pictures, and reconstruction of...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Magic Lanterns, Magic Mirrors

For Students 9th - 10th
Like fun house mirrors, motion pictures over the past one hundred years have reflected, challenged, influenced, and altered our visions of ourselves and the world in which we live. This virtual Exhibition was produced by the Photographic...
Primary
Other

Media History Digital Library: Early Cinema Collection (1855 1930)

For Students 9th - 10th
A large collection of original trade papers and journals that focused on the early motion picture industry covering periods from 1894 to 1949.
Primary
Other

Media History Digital Library: Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
A large collection of original magazines that document the evolution of the American broadcasting industry from 1896 to 1964, covering radio, television, and motion pictures.
Website
Other

Museum of the Moving Image: Optical Room

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a tour through the history of moving images from the earliest times into the mid-1910s. The tour begins with pre-cinema devices and practices, including shadow plays and optical toys, and covers film and photography pioneers and...
Unit Plan
George Eastman Museum

Animation: Illusion of Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out these moving picture devices that came before the cinema. Includes instructions on how to make your own.
Website
Other

Ampas: Scientific and Technical Awards

For Students 9th - 10th
A description and explanation of the science and technical awards of the Academy Awards. Provides insight into the extensive behind-the-scenes work involved in motion pictures.
eBook
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera by Victor Appleton

For Students 5th - 8th
Classic Reader provides numerous classic works from famous authors. One work is Tom Swift and His Wizard Camera, an adventure multi-chapter book from 1912, written by the ghost writer Victor Appleton. In this book's quest, the main...
Activity
George Eastman Museum

George Eastman House: Create a Zoetrope

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A zoetrope, or the "wheel of life," is an early way motion pictures were made. With these easy to follow directions you can create one of your very own using the printable templates.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This short biographical piece shares information about Thomas Edison, the inventor of the phonograph, light bulb, motion picture camera, and more. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that...
Website
American Movie Classics Company

The Film Site: Film History Before 1920

For Students 9th - 10th
A storehouse of information about early film history, which discusses the development of the science and art behind motion picture technologies. Also looks at the how films were exhibited, the first feature-length films, early stars, fan...
Website
Other

Oscars Official Site: Margaret Herrick Library

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains information and a description of the holdings at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, one of the largest and most extensive film library collections in the world.
Website
Other

Lee De Forest, American Inventor: The Complete Lee De Forest

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive site covering all aspects of Lee de Forest, his inventions, writings, and personal life. Find drawings and pictures of his audion tube and find out about his legacy, especially in the world of electronics.
Website
Other

Kid Filmmakers: Home

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Website for and about kids who are interested in making films, with pictures, videos, and links to resources.
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: A Change of Direction

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will make predictions and conduct an experiment using marbles to figure out what types of things can cause a moving object to change direction. Included is a video of the lesson in action, pictures, discussion questions, and a...
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: A Change of Direction Exploring the Impact of Forces

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will be able to determine a way to change the direction of a moving object by conducting a simple experiment. Included in this lesson are videos of the activity in action, a printable recording sheet, pictures of the set-up for...
Website
Other

Ampas: Student Academy Awards

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of the Student Academy Awards, presented to college film students by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Includes rules of the competition, description of film categories, application information, highlights...
Primary
Other

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Downtown: Nickelodeon

For Students 9th - 10th
Along with a black and white picture of a nickelodeon, find a great description of the first one, located in Pittsburgh, and a history of the motion picture. From an article published in 1919.
Activity
George Eastman Museum

George Eastman House: Create a Phenakistoscope

For Students 3rd - 8th
Phenakistoscope. You may not be able to pronounce it, but with these easy to follow instructions you can make one. Have fun creating one of the earliest cinematography devices and watch your pictures come to life. Includes a printable...
Activity
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Picturing America: Eakins: John Biglin in a Single Scull [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Analysis of an Eakins work in watercolor on one of the artist's favorite themes: athletes in motion.
Handout
ArtLex

Art Lex: Movement

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Artlex is a fantastic description of how movement is used in the creation of art. There are links to works of art in sculpture, painting and photography as well as focused interpretations of how different types of movement...
Primary
Other

Media History Digital Library: Year Books (1916 1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
A huge collection of original year books and annuals produced by the movie industry and covering the period from 1916 to 1964. These document the evolution of the motion picture industry. Sub-categories of the year books include film...

Other popular searches